Tuesday, March 28, 2017

By NYN Daily

TOP NEWS:

* The city’s embattled child welfare agency is hiring two national child advocacy organizations as outside consultants, along with an expert from Los Angeles to independently review its operations, the New York Post writes.

* Gotham Gazette offers 10 takeaways from yesterday’s City Council General Welfare Committee’s budget hearing to evaluate the programs, expenditures and needs of the Human Resource Administration and Department of Homeless Services.

* Since July, the Center for Urban Community Services has been running a street medicine program funded with 400,000 dollars from the city’s Department of Homeless Services, and while funding is stable for now, President Donald Trump’s proposed budget presents problems, Politico New York writes.

* A recent study of U.K.-based nonprofits study found that 35 percent of the surveyed nonprofits use digital technologies but don’t have a strategic approach, an additional 12 percent are in the thinking stages of a digital strategy, with three percent still struggling to access basic tools, Nonprofit Quarterly writes.

* At a policy gathering, city officials from around the country weighed their options over how to appropriately defy Trump’s immigration orders, Politico New York writes.

* As lawmakers seek to wrap up budget negotiations this week, a state appeals court lifted a stay that allowed the state to hold off from releasing $69 million that was earmarked for failing schools, the Daily News writes.

* Robert Cherry, a professor at Brooklyn College and CUNY Graduate Center, writes in Gotham Gazette that while a share of those previously incarcerated can benefit from academic programs, particularly two-year occupational degrees, the majority is better served by certificate or other short-term training programs.

We are dedicated to help nonprofit organizations improve and grow to meet their maximum potential. Areas of Expertise: Strategic Planning, Feasibility Studies, Capital and Annual Campaigns, Major, Foundation, Corporate, and Legacy Gifts, Board Campaigns, Development and Training, Grant Writing and Research

************

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION:

* U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatened to cut off Justice Department grants to cities that fail to assist federal immigration authorities, moving the Trump administration closer to a potential clash with leaders of America's largest urban centers, Reuters writes.

* The growth of programs that benefit members of the military and veterans has helped the National Endowment for the Arts build support among some Republicans and rebut criticism that it is an elitist, left-leaning repository of indulgence, the New York Times writes.

* The push to end homelessness among veterans would suffer without the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, which is up for elimination under Trump's proposed budget, nonprofits and local officials say, according to the Associated Press.

IN DEPTH:

* Without sectorwide attention paid to the transition of leadership, years after this current wave of executive retirements we may look up and see that nothing has really changed: that we are still a predominantly white, “charitable” sector doing the bare minimum to disrupt the social and political status quo, Nonprofit Quarterly writes.

Don’t miss Growth for Good’s upcoming workshop! Claudia Zeldin is facilitating "Marketing that Builds Community" on Wednesday, April 5th, 9:30-11:30am. It will focus on using approaches that are most effective and efficient at cultivating a community, such as social media and fundraising events. Workshop participants will be provided with planning resources including Growth for Good’s communications and fundraising calendar template.

************

NONPROFITS IN THE NEWS:

* A proposal to install a mobile shower trailer outside the nonprofit CHiPS in Park Slope is up for funding under City Councilman Brad Lander's participatory budgeting program this year, DNAinfo writes.

The Greater Syracuse Land Bank now has 2 million dollars more it can use to demolish select abandoned properties throughout the city, thanks to a grant from the New York Attorney General's Office, Syracuse.com writes.

* Months after the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York broke ground on a $2 million renovation and expansion of its facility, officials are asking the state to set aside 500,000 dollars in funding for storage space they say is integral to putting healthy food on New York tables, the Times Union writes.

* More than 200 children injured in disaster or conflict have been brought to the United States for surgery, prosthetics and other medical treatment, courtesy of the Global Medical Relief Fund, according to Voice of America.

* The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement has awarded the Cayuga Centers a nearly 44 million dollar grant to care for unaccompanied refugee children, Syracuse.com reports.

************

A new report from the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness finds that NYC’S homeless high school students have worse health outcomes than their housed peers. They disproportionately face the most extreme health risks. They are also more likely to take advantage of in-school health clinics, where available.

************

NYN BUZZ:

* The 14th Street Y raised more than $200,000 at its 2017 PURIM Gala at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk Street, NYC. More than 200 attendees joined for cocktails, dinner and entertainment. The 14th Street Y 2017 PURIM Gala featured one-of-a kind live art and performances: Purim, as told by acclaimed acrobatics company Cirque-tacular, a special performance by children from the 14th Street Y After School, live music by the Bridget Robbins Trio, body Art by Sheila Jordan and more. The event also featured exclusive artwork from the 14th Street Y’s innovative arts fellowship program LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture, children in the 14th Street Y’s early childhood programs and more.

CAREER MOVES:

Jacqueline Ebanks, Women’s City Club executive director for the past three years, has tendered her resignation effective April 28. During her tenure, Ebanks made significant contributions to the strength and growth of the organization. Highlights of achievements under Jacqui’s leadership include: Creation of WCC’s new brand identity and website; Heightened diversity of WCC’s membership and board to be more representative of the New York City’s population; initiation of a WCC Graduate Fellows program to develop the next generation of advocates for change; publication and distribution of WCC’s Citywide Resource Guides for all five boroughs; and more. WCC has established a Search Committee chaired by Mary Ellen Rudolph, a Member of the WCC Board. A search firm will be selected by the Committee to assist in the process of identifying our new Executive Director who shall lead us into our second century of advocacy and activism. Listen to a recent NYN Insights podcast interview we did with Ebanks.

FUNDING AND GRANTS:

* The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision invites applications from not-for-profit and for-profit providers for the development and operation of Community Based Residential Programs for individuals under Community Supervision. The CBRP is a housing initiative to assist parolees under the jurisdiction of DOCCS to attain stability in the community while providing for individual case needs and community safety. CBRPs provide food, counseling, and other services such as substance abuse treatment, educational/vocational training, mental health and social services to residents either directly or through referral to credentialed providers. To be eligible for an award, programs must have a current and valid Certificate of Occupancy or equivalent. Read more here.

Under the Supervision of the Compliance Officer, the Director of Quality Assurance shall develop and implement Quality Assurance initiatives including the monitoring of and evaluation of the quality of all programs and services at Birch Family Services. The Director of Quality Assurance will assist in facilitating the application of all relevant federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies by identifying the need for policies and procedures, development of policies and procedures, implementation of policies and procedures and evaluation of policies and procedures. The Director of Quality Assurance is responsible for incident management including the investigation of all incidents involving students, residents and other program participants at Birch.

At Sheltering Arms, the Administrative Supervisor will function within the context of the Family Team Conference model to establish and review permanency-planning goals, ensuring the overall safety, growth and development of every child, placed in the care of Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services. Essential functions include supervising a unit of 4 caseworkers providing quality services to children in placement, their birth families and foster parents.

SCO Family of Services has provided vital human services throughout New York City and Long Island for more than 100 years. SCO helps vulnerable New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. We get young children off to a good start, launch youth into people children and adults with special needs. A youth specialist is needed to provide 24/7 “eyes on” client supervision, which includes ensuring compliance with a daily schedule and maintaining program structure; implement group and individual treatment plans utilizing the Missouri approach; develop and model effective relationships and behaviors with youth, co-workers and treatment team; and more.

Need to run a legal notice? City & State is qualified for LLCs, public hearings, auctions, summons and other publications. Quick, easy & efficient – email legalnotices@cityandstateny.com for more information.

************

THIS WEEK’S PODCAST:

* Katrina Huffman, Chief Program Officer at Youth INC and Dr. Kim Sabo-Flores, Co-Founder and CEO of Algorhythm were part of a team that aimed to discover how to improve youth outcomes. They joined us in an NYN Media Insights Podcast Outcomes segment to discuss guiding youth development in out-of-school programs. In an additional segment, we talk with Martin Hassner, who recently launched the Reform Student Debt campaign to change the landscape for students graduating college.

POLITICAL BULLETIN BY CITY & STATE:

* As lawmakers seek to wrap up budget negotiations this week, a state appeals court lifted a stay that allowed the state to hold off from releasing $69 million that was earmarked for failing schools, the Daily News writes.

* Cuomo threw cold water on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s hopes of enacting a new so-called “mansion tax” on expensive home sales in the city, saying “it hasn’t gone anywhere,” the Daily News writes.

* Raise the Age legislation, statewide ride-hailing and Cuomo’s public college tuition plan are among the things to watch as the state budget comes together this week, Politico New York writes.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 4 -- As part of the Nonprofit Formation Fundamentals Series sponsored by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Foundation Center, a workshop will focus on the legal considerations before starting a nonprofit.

* Front Line Heroes display excellence in their commitment to serving those in need. Every year, NYN Media recognizes people from the nonprofit industry who work in the field directly helping clients and making their organizations' goals a reality through hard work and dedication. Click here to see this year’s honorees. To RSVP for the April 18 event, click here.

On June 15, NYN Media will host its third annual Nonprofit OpCon. This event focuses on streamlining processes and operations for nonprofits in New York. How do we make things easier and more pleasant for executive leadership, operations, IT, risk, finance, HR and more? There are new industry standards to consider, and new guidelines around applying for public funds to learn. Bring your organization into the 21st century and abandon old practices that are depleting your valuable resources. It’s a new day in the nonprofit industry; join us as we explore these insights and strategies. Click here to learn more.

************

TODAY’S GOVERNMENT SKED:

11 a.m. – “The Capitol Pressroom” features Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York, Jim Heaney of the Investigative Post, Ron Deutsch of the Fiscal Policy Institute and E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center for Public Policy, WCNY.

12 p.m. - As the New York City Department of Education seeks to close one of the city’s only special needs charter schools, students, parents, alumni, and teachers testify in an appeals hearing, calling on the DOE to avoid shutting down Opportunity Charter School (OCS) in Harlem. 2nd floor conference room, Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers Street, Manhattan

12 p.m. – Members of the #bFair2DirectCare campaign on behalf of people with developmental disabilities create a “Ring of Care” rally and issues inaugural There for Direct Care awards, War Room, state Capitol, Albany.